Innovate UK

Innovate UK (IUK) is the UK’s innovation agency, providing around £2 billion annually in innovation support. Through a range of products, services, and funding, IUK helps businesses drive growth and embrace cutting-edge research and technologies. With a diverse investment portfolio spanning the country, IUK empowers key sectors—including manufacturing, biotech, agri-food, and digital—to harness innovation and develop new products.

IUK has a thriving network of 335,000 innovators and, last year, supported 19,500 businesses—8,000 of which were first-time beneficiaries. It also collaborates with over 20 government departments and agencies and operates a growing network of Catapult centres across 50 UK locations, supporting more than 5,000 SMEs.

The Faraday Battery Challenge is a £610 million investment in mission-led research and innovation, spanning “Lab to Factory” development, advanced research, and national scale-up infrastructure. It supports the creation of sustainable batteries that are cost-effective, high-performance, durable, safe, and recyclable. By tackling market failures in road transport decarbonisation and attracting investors to the UK’s battery industry, the challenge accelerates the development of next-generation battery technology. Delivered in partnership with the Faraday Institution, UK Battery Industrialisation Centre, and Innovate UK Business Connect, it integrates scientific expertise and industry collaboration to build a strong pipeline of innovation.

We are seeking a strategic and visionary Challenge Director to lead a UK-wide industrial programme focused on advancing battery technology and the broader innovation sector. The transition to an electrified future demands diverse battery solutions, some yet to be imagined. To secure the UK’s long-term success in battery manufacturing and car-making, the next generation of battery technology must be developed, alongside new, de-risked production processes. The Faraday Battery Challenge plays a crucial role in fostering research and innovation that will deliver economic impact and maintain the UK’s competitive edge in these industries.

The Challenge Director will play a pivotal role in delivering the next phase of this programme, driving real economic value and forging strong stakeholder collaboration. They must be a champion for the sector, capable of uniting key players to maximise impact for the UK economy. Through strong leadership, they will align partners, ensure programme success, and deliver strategic outcomes that contribute to national growth.

We are committed to embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do, ensuring our organisation reflects the communities we serve. We strive to create a workplace where every voice is heard and everyone can reach their full potential.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Innovate UK on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference OAYIQ. Alternatively email Belinda.beck@saxbam.com. Applications should be received by noon on Tuesday 1^st April.